The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-02-19
A NATIONAL AFFAIR.
The Pawnshop Of France and Ite
Methods.
An Income Of Over 01S,OOO,OOO-No
Private Pawnshops Allowed-A Prom
ised RefOrm-An Ancient and In.
dispensable Institution.

In the center OF q busy cOmmerclal
quarter of Paris-in the Rue DIES Blancs
Manteaux-is a large tive-story build
ing, with its windows securely barred
and wired, as if something precious
was contained within, with the ever
prominent words, Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity" carved on its walls, and
over the doorway of which, just under
the tri.color, may be read in large gold
lettering, "Mont de Piete." Several
republican guards walk about the large
courts within, and there are other signs
of oficialism and that the building in
question is national property. It is,
indeed, the headquarters Of the nation
al pawnshop. With us, when an un-
expected crisis in ones financial affairs
leads him temporarily to get rid Of
some Of his personal property, he
alphabetically tells his friends
that he has been to his 'un-
cle's." A Frenchman in similar
straits visits his 'aunt," whose real
name throughout France is the ':Mont
dc Pete" There are no odious associ-
ations about this National institution.
A Frenchman will not stink away
sneakingly to his 'aunt," but when
necessity requires it, will visit her fear
lessly and openly as he would the Es-
comte dc Paris or the Credit Lyonnais.
The Mont dc Piete is, indeed, a bank,
without capital and without dividend.
From the budget of the Paris institu-
ton for 1877, which the director, NJ.
Edmond Duval. has just placed in the
hands of the Municipal Council, an idea
may be obtained of the amount of bust
ness done at this bank of piety. The
estimated income is put at 93, 319, $40
francs-about fS, 1872, 3S4-and as the
accounts are supposed to do little mor
than balance, the expenditure is placed
at several thousand pounds less. A de-
crease in the business done during
the year is attributed to the
fact that many people of all
professions have been compelled to
leave the city, owing to the depression
of trade. Connected with the principal
Mont dc Pietc there are twenty auxiliary
bureaus throughout the town, and it is
perhaps about the only institution in
Paris which is open all the year round,
fcte days included. The director of the
concern is appointed by the Minister of
the Interior, and the administration of
the concern is under the Project of the
Seine. Eight per cent. is charged as
interest on the articles pledged. This
charge is unqucstionably high. but the
expenses it has to meet are considerable.
In irregular pawnshops the percentage
charged sometimes reaches 90! per
cent. The administration of the Mont
de Pete contemplaies reducing the rate.
The money thus acquired goes to pay
the expenses of management. At the
end of a year or fifteen months, if the
pledge does not respond to q COM
munication he receives from the Mont
and renew his pledge, or take
out his property, it is sold.
Within the general administration of
the Mont dc Pete there is an army of
officials called the commissaires
priseurs, who value the property
pledged. During last year there were
1868 sales Of unclaimed property which
realized 246, 987 francs. The commits
saires priscurs look after these sales,
and their charge is 5 per cent. The
director complains that the charges OF
these commissaires are excessive, and
threatens reforms. Should the pro perty
sold bring more than it was originally